Aprons Away: Women's Work on Route 66

By Cheryl Eichar Jett

We've all heard of Route 66, but did you ever stop to think of all the women who worked along the 2,448-mile length of the most famous highway in the world? The welcoming smile from an aproned waitress offering to pour you a cup of coffee or the friendly face of the motel owner ready to rent you a room come to mind. But thousands more worked behind the scenes at a variety of jobs, businesses, careers, and artistic endeavors during the first century of Route 66. From Chicago to Los Angeles, in cities and small towns, women pumped gas, held elected offices, painted public art murals, joined the military, reported news, and designed buildings, theme parks, fashion, and toys. Just in time for this year's 100th anniversary of the iconic Mother Road, author Cheryl Eichar Jett examines the myriad roles women played at the crossroads of Route 66 and women's history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1681066343
• ISBN13: 9781681066349
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Reedy Press
• Length: 192 Pages